Service honored and scholarships awarded at Mānoa Veterans Day celebration

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Office of Veteran Student Services hosted the 2017 Veterans Day Celebration on November 8 on the Hawaiʻi Hall lawn. The event honored all veterans and recognized 13 veterans who received scholarships to pursue careers in nursing.

The office supports active duty military, veterans, reservists, National Guard and military-connected students, and is committed to providing support for veterans transitioning to college and during the journey through college. It is led by Kenith Scott, who served with the U.S. Marine Corps in the 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion. He received his master’s degree in public administration and bachelor’s degree in anthropology from UH Mānoa. Previously, Scott worked for the Department of Veteran Affairs in the Health Administration Services.

“The government provides a great education benefit to veterans and military-connected students. As a recipient of the GI Bill myself, I know firsthand the huge impact that furthering your education can have on your life. So it’s important to me to help other veterans achieve their goals,” said Scott.

Creating a pathway to nursing for service members

The UH Mānoa Veterans to Nurses Program in the School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene also provides support to veterans interested in pursuing an undergraduate degree in nursing. The program provides college credit for veterans’ past medical experience, creating a pathway to professional nursing and employment for service members with skills and experience in healthcare. The initiative is the first program of its kind in the state and is part of the national effort to address the growing demand for health-care services throughout our nation.

This is the third year that the Veterans to Nurses Program received funding from the May and Stanley Smith Charitable Trust to provide 13 scholarships to student veterans pursuing careers in nursing. Student veterans received between $2,500 to $4,400 to further their nursing education at UH Mānoa and Kapiʻolani Community College. Scholarship recipients are all veterans and have served in the U.S. Air Force, Army, Army Reserves, Coast Guard, Marine Corps and Navy.

“UH Mānoa nursing is proud to be one of 20 schools of nursing and the only program in Hawaiʻi to participate in this national initiative,” said Dean Mary G. Boland. “Veterans are a vital community asset and we are fully committed to providing them with excellent nursing education.”